"If you get too stressed out, just picture a llama wearing a poncho. I dare you to be stressed after that." —my friend, Ben, in an email that totally just made my day.

January was a rather nasty month here in Skirtsville (and in other places, I hear). My job had me wanting to gag myself with a spork, and it took many hours of Sims 2 and Samurai Jack and cuddle time with the currently nameless sock monkey to keep me from resorting to such painful remedies. That said, I'm in the mood to do fun things and to meet cool people and to smile and laugh until my cheeks and sides hurt. Got any sweet ideas? Links? Sock monkeys?

P.S. Ben, thank you. Internet, the title of this entry is a load of crap.

I have mad skills in penmanship, playing piano, knowing exactly when to use a semicolon, organizing bookshelves, and befriending unfriendly cats.